A large, dusty desert. Empty, soulless. Just the sound of wind and despair. Steve Watson walks, wind blowing his hair, his shirt. He looks like he came from a boss battle.

"So… alone." His voice is desperate. "Where am I?"

"Hello!" His voice cracks. "Is anyone there? Can anyone even hear me? Can anyone even see me?!"

"Did Mr. Beast finally hire me?" His voice is small, weak.

Suddenly, a flash of red energy passes by.

"Hello?!" He shouts, confused.

The wind grows as the flash rides around, faster and faster. Until…

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

He screams as white energy flashes him.

He wakes up from his dream, panting heavily, clutching his chest. A loud heartbeat rings.

PRESS O TO STOP HEARTBEAT.

The heartbeat stops. His HUD flashes.

HUD: 70/100. GET SOMETHING TO EAT, SKINNY!

Steve sighs, "Oh, it was just a dream." He grabs his iPhone, finding unread messages from the "G.A.E" study group.

What is this world? Cointropolis. It has an RPG-style system and video game logic. There are two divided people, Gamers and Enemies. Simple video game style.

Steve puts his phone down and stands.

STEVE WATSON
AGE: 19
POWERS: YELLOW ENERGY
WEAKNESSES: LACK OF CONTROL

He puts on his school uniform, grabs his grey tire, and gets ready.

"Finally, going back to high school!" He shouts.

A warning HUD displays.

INCREASE YOUR HUD BY DRINKING COFFEE AND EATING BREAKFAST!

Steve groans, "I hate this."

He walks downstairs. Bradley flips eggs and bacon.

"Hey, bro! What's cooking?"

Bradley chuckles. "How is the search for the diamond going?"

Options appear.

A – GOING GREAT!
B – I DIDN'T WATCH LAW AND ORDER YET. I DON'T LIKE IT.
C – I DON'T KNOW!
D – UH, CAN I JUST GET SOMETHING TO EAT?

Steve selects C. "I have no idea!"

Bradley sighs. He pours coffee.

10+ HEALTH ADDED!
HUD: 80/100

"Bradley. Do you ever think I will have the girl of my dreams?"

Bradley turns, blunt. "I don't know, Steve. Marla and Matthew are a power couple. But I won't be surprised if they are joining the Enemies group."

Steve scoffs. "Pfft. Enemies group? Marla is an angel. I love her so much, but I just don't have the confidence to ask her out!"

"Okay. Maybe Matthew is the one with tricks up his sleeve. But I know somewhere, Marla is not innocent."

Steve eats, muffled. "This is delicious!"

10+ HEALTH ADDED!
HUD: 90/100.

Bradley breaks the ice. "Steve. I am your brother. And I don't think you will ever be a true gamer hero. You just can't respawn."

"Pfft? Respawn. I don't care. Being a gamer hero is useless. Unless it was a challenge posed by the Girl of My Dreams."

"Are you done eating? We are pretty late."

10+ HEALTH ADDED!
HUD: 90/100
HEALTH FULL!

Steve's head drops on the table and he starts glitching, rolling around like a ragdoll.

"I should have seen that coming," Bradley says.

(CHAPTER 1: A DAY FOR STEVE)

Steve walks on the sidewalk, confident, his body buzzing with yellow energy. Bradley hides with a jacket, a hoodie, and a trench coat.

"Keep a low profile, Steve. It prevents the Player Police from noticing you!"

Steve walks and collects coins. "Bradley, you are always shy. I bet that's why you don't have friends in class."

Bradley rolls his eyes. "Wow, Steve. Nice comeback."

Suddenly, the Player Police arrive, two robots with futuristic robo-guns.

"Where do you think you two are going? We have to analyze you first. If you are part of this world."

Steve's eyes widen. Bradley takes a fighting stance.

One robot ties Steve with wires and throws him around.

"SARCAAAAAAAAAAAASM!!"

He hits a wall.

HUD: 54/100

Bradley's jaw tightens. "No one messes with my brother! Except me!"

BRADLEY WATSON
AGE: 20
POWERS: HAMMER AND INVISIBILITY
WEAKNESSES: STABLE LIFE.

The bots aim. "Analyzing: Bradley Watson. Strong, introverted, protective, hates being interrupted when eating."

Bradley throws his sandwich. "Hey! That's the only thing you know about me!"

Bradley pulls out his hammer.

A – FIGHT
B – RUN
C – DO THERAPY
D – PROTECT STEVE

Bradley chooses A. He swings his hammer.

BAM!

It hits one robot. The robot ties Bradley, but he turns invisible, appears in the air, and crushes it.

CLANG!!

Bradley swings at the second bot, but it shoots. He turns invisible, but a missile hits his area.

BOOM!!

Bradley is injured. The bot laughs. "Hand us your player ID."

Bradley hands it over, defeated. "Just don't hurt my brother."

A single tear drops.

The robot laughs. "I can't believe it. It's finally time to—"

A large star appears in the sky. It drops, revealing Shaun 'Edison' Wells on a skateboard, flying down.

NAME: SHAUN EDISON WELLS
AGE: 21
POWERS: SKATING, MUSCLE, AND FIRE.
WEAKNESSES: EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY.

"Shaun?!" They all shout.

"It's time to kick your robotic ass," Shaun says smugly.

"Woah, Steve. You looked like you went through puberty. Again. Wait, you're still in it, right?"

"I missed you, Shaun. Have you found the diamond?"

"Ask John Schneider."

Shaun punches the robot's head, roars fire at it, then jumps and smashes it.

(CHAPTER 2: THE FIGHT)

At "RITA'S SODA AND EXPRESSO," Shaun, Steve, and Bradley enter.

STEVE'S HP: 34/100
BRADLEY'S HP: 42/100
SHAUN'S HP: 95/100

Shaun slaps the counter. Rita appears in a barista outfit.

"What is it now, pipsqueak?"

"Just 3 sodas."

"Your humor sucks." Rita looks at Steve and Bradley. "The G.A.E group is running fairly well."

Steve looks at Rita. "What are you doing here? Isn't it time for school?"

Rita scoffs. "We were kicked out."

"Why?!"

"Because us, G.A.E 9, Principal Regi thought we weren't serious!"

Steve is shocked.

A – BE DEPRESSED AND WALK IN THE RAIN
B – SHOUT
C – GIVE UP
D – HAVE A HEART ATTACK.

Steve does A and B. "You were goofing around! You and John, and that stupid theatre kid! We were an elite study group, but you decided to hide things from me! Why?! This was my only chance to get the girl of my dreams!"

Suddenly, John Schneider enters.

NAME: JOHN SCHNEIDER
AGE: 22
POWERS: NINJA AND GREEN NOODLES
WEAKNESSES: BEING A DICK.

John finishes his green noodles. "Oh, who summoned my name here?"

Everyone points at Steve.

"Steve. You only cared about your manic pixie dream girl. You can never, ever…"

John slaps Steve.

"Get Marla!"

John shouts. "I shut this dumb group down because of you. I thought we were there to collect coins and get the Diamonds of Egress! We were just there, sidelined like supporting characters. For your main, stupid, lovestruck plot!"

John paces. "I was the intellect. But you used us. You manipulated us. You dorky, selfish, fool!"

John throws a sword at the wall. Steve walks forward, angry. "Well, fine. I sidelined you guys for my dream. And honestly, that's fine."

Everyone gasps.

"I only wanted to get my crush. And I'm still coming."

John's jaw tightens. "You can never. Because you can never RESPAWN."

The word echoes.

Steve's eyes turn full yellow.

"Everyone respawns."

"Not everyone," John says, pulling out his katana.

"Then let's see about that," Steve says, pulling out his yellow sword.

JOHN SCHNEIDER VS STEVE WATSON
FIGHT!

Steve punches John. They fight with swords.

CLANG, PUNCH, CLANG, PUNCH, CLANG, PUNCH

Steve pushes John down. John kicks Steve and slices his cheek.

They fight, swords clanging. Steve punches John's neck. John throws soda in Steve's face, punches him, and sweep-kicks him into a red portal.

BATTLEFIELD.

John flies in, hitting Steve. He punches, kicks, headbutts, and swings him.

'NOOOOOO''

AQUARIUM.

They fight underwater. Steve punches John's face. Steve punches him with yellow energy. John slices Steve, kicks him into the glass.

FLOWER FIELDS.

At sunset, they fight. John swings his sword. Steve kicks it, punches John. John kicks Steve's shin, punches his chest, and drops him on flowers. Another portal opens.

NORMAL HOUSE.

They land in seats.

"Where are we?" John asks.

Steve grabs a flower pot and hits John's head. He uses Shadow Step, flying three times faster, and punches Steve down.

Steve jumps, tears falling. "This is for my Marla!"

John blocks with his two swords.

"Wait, Steve. I will respawn. It will be my pleasure. But remember I helped you found the group, I taught you about good X.P. I taught you everything?"

"If you let me live, I can teach you how to respawn."

Steve hesitates. He sees a poster of Marla. He looks at John, who is pleading.

(CHAPTER 3: MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS)

Portals open. Shaun flies on a skateboard, Rita flies in, along with Bradley, Tiffany in a bubble, and Paul.

Tiffany lands. "Hey, Stevie! You betrayed us. So, it's time for you to get REKT!"

NAME: TIFFANY
AGE: 17.
POWERS: CHEERLEADING, BUBBLES, OPTIMISM.
WEAKNESSES: TOXICITY. DADDY ISSUES AND...POOR ENTRANCE.

Paul lands face-first, striking a pose.

"It's you, Steve! The teenager who has the smell of existential dread!"

NAME: PAUL RODGERS
AGE: 18
POWERS: CARDS, SKULLS, DEALING, ARMS.
WEAKNESSES: CRINGEY SHAKESPEARAN DIALOGUE. AND ALSO...POOR ENTRANCE X 2.

They all aim fighting stances.

"C'mon Steve. Are you really sure you wanna betray us?" Bradley asks.

Rita shouts, "You're wasting my freaking time! Just make your choice!"

Shaun leans on his skateboard. "I think the kid is conflicted."

A – BETRAY YOUR GANG
B – BE ALONE
C – GO AFTER MARLA
D – BOTH.

Steve is silent. John coughs coins, standing up. "Guys, let him make his own decisions."

Steve looks up, smirking.

"I mean, there is nothing wrong with that, right?" Paul asks.

"As long as it doesn't waste my time," Rita says.

"But he will never learn to respawn!" Bradley shouts.

"Here it's every man for themselves. And I'm going to get those diamonds. Solo," John shouts.

Tiffany asks, "What's that sound?"

Shaun glows green, holding a basketball. "What? I'm flexing my muscles."

Rita crosses her arms. "Damn. I gotta lose some weight."

Tiffany looks down. "Oh my god, Steve!"

Steve is gone. Left behind marks.

John is shocked. "What the hell? He actually betrayed us?!"

Bradley looks down in horror.

"He actually did it."

(CHAPTER 4: HE DID IT)

Dark and rainy in Cointropolis. Steve walks, dirty and injured.

HUD: 41/100.

He stops at Cointropolis High, looking up as thunder strikes.

Steve chuckles. "Just like John said…"

He smirks. "Make your own decision."

A – USE PURPLE FLOWER
B – GO THERE LIKE THAT
C – ASK FOR HELP
D – APOLOGIZE

Steve's face drops. Rain pours. He remembers the fun with his study group.

"I really did the wrong thing."

In a cold lab, a mysterious figure with glasses watches Steve on monitors.

"Steve Watson. Looks like he is on track to get High School's sweetheart Marla Brightway."

The figure is Professor Abel.

"Bring in Static Stan."

Abel laughs evilly. "Oh, Stevie. Hope you enjoy your teenage, angst-filled Hero's Journey."

Back in the desert. Steve walks, dirty and broken.

"Where are my friends? Where are they?"

4 DAYS LATER…

Steve walks, dusty and broken. The desert is windier.

"So… alone." His voice is desperate. "Where am I?"

"Hello!" His voice cracks. "Is anyone there? Can anyone even hear me? Can anyone even see me?!"

A flash of red energy passes by.

"Hello?!"

The wind grows. The flash rides faster until…

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

He screams as white energy flashes him.

He opens his eyes to find someone unexpected.

MARLA BRIGHTWAY.

She pushes her goggles up and holds his face.

Steve is shocked. "Marla?!"

MARLA BRIGHTWAY
AGE: 19
POWERS: UMBRELLA, RED ENERGY, FLASHES.
WEAKNESSES: YOU WILL LEARN IN VOLUME 2.

"What are you doing here?!"

TO BE CONTINUED
IN VOLUME 2…